As far as solo debuts go, Alec Ounsworth‘s Mo Beauty (Anti-) is impressive. The Philadelphia-based Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman travelled to New Orleans to record the album with producer Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and a host of the city’s notable musicians, including bassist George Porter, Jr. (Meters), drummer Stanton Moore and keyboardist Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars). The result is a mature, confident, 10-song collection that Ounsworth had only hinted at being capable of with his work in Clap Your Hands. He also has a second solo album, Skin And Bones (credited to Flashy Python and available online only), that features members of the Walkmen, Dr. Dog and Man Man. While all this new music is good for Clap Your Hands fans, you get the impression that the band (now on hiatus) is no longer a priority for Ounsworth, who became a father last year and is enjoying family life at home. Ounsworth is guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Ounsworth: I am writing this in and, in a way, about my dining room. Q just came in. Quentin Stoltzfus helped me build my studio, engineered my record, played drums and guitar. Now, he is building a chicken coop next to the barn. He is a jack of all trades, I guess. Quentin has his own project, which is currently called The Band Formerly Known As Mazarin. I don’t know what it will be called in the future. Any suggestions? Send them to us! Is Q’s beard getting longer? Yes, I think it is! Video after the jump.
One reply on “In Alec Ounsworth’s Home: Quentin Stoltzfus”
Aw this makes me happy to see! I have been trying to find out what Quentin is up to, to make sure he’s still involved in making/producing beautiful music. And that he still has his beard. SXSW is nearly here, and with each one I remember getting to hang out with him, Apollo Sunshine and the Walkmen about 3 years ago. All around great experience. Hope to run into him again. Even tour managers from Seattle know who he is. His influence travels far.